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The villainous role of The Joker in The Dark Knight, the upcoming movie in the Batman series, will be reprised by Heath Ledger. Warner Bros. confirmed the choice Monday and production is scheduled to start early next year.

According to E!:

“I’m excited to continue the story we started with Batman Begins,” director Christopher Nolan, who has also signed up for the sequel, said in a statement. “Our challenge in casting the Joker was to find an actor who is not just extraordinarily talented but fearless. Watching Heath Ledger’s interpretation of this iconic character taking on Christian Bale’s Batman is going to be incredible.”

I’m wishing Heath the best of luck, but Jack Nicholson’s giant red wax lips will be awfully hard to fill.

We have no idea where Heath is, but how about a few more photos of his Michelle Williams, after the jump.

(Image source)